CEO SALARIES

CAP WOULD DRIVE OUT COMPETENT EXECUTIVES

The Republican protest at President Obama's proposal to limit CEO salaries to a mere $500,000 a year is well taken.

The government shouldn't be allowed to dictate salaries to anyone just because they are living off taxpayer money. That kind of policy would drive capable, hard-working executives out of the labor force and turn their companies over to inefficient incompetents who would lead their companies into business failures, bankruptcies and the need for government bailouts.

RED LIGHT CAMERAS

IDENTIFYING DRIVER A REAL ENFORCEMENT ISSUE

While I applaud any proposal that will reduce traffic accidents, I question the legality of the red-light camera program. As I understand the law, the owner is not responsible for a moving violation; the driver is. Additionally, under our legal system the state must identify and prove the guilt of the accused; the accused does not have to prove his/her innocence as proposed in the bill.

A cited owner may not know who was driving the vehicle at the time and may not even know a violation has occurred. Friends, family members or others may all be authorized operators and the owner is under no obligation to maintain a vehicle use record.

During the "van cam" days, when my car was for sale and was driven by several prospective buyers, I received a citation and did not know who was responsible. Since the photo could not resolve the issue, the citation was dismissed — not because I proved my innocence but because the state could not prove who was guilty.

Bottom line: If the state cannot identify the driver, they cannot prove his/her guilt and the case must be thrown out by the courts.

B&BS

OPPONENTS HURTING TOURISM, OUR ECONOMY

I agree with Karen Luke (Letters, Feb. 4) that the opponents to B&Bs and TVUs are doing far more to hurt our economy than they are to help it. They scare tourism away from the small towns and from the Islands as a whole.

Many of the guests that stay in these units would never consider staying at hotels in areas like Waikiki. B&Bs and TVUs are businesses that pay general excise tax (4 percent) as well as transient accommodations tax (7.25 percent).

Residents should encourage as much tourism as possible to feed our local economies with Mainland dollars. Just think that for every $1 that is spent at a vacation rental, 11.25 cents are paid to the state helping to keep kama'aina general excise, income and property taxes lower.

PRO BOWL

STATE'S SHOWING OF STADIUM WAS SHAMEFUL

The NFL did its part with great parking, entertainment, banners across all the rusting metal, lots of cheerleaders, team mascots, a second giant replay screen to the right of the south end zone, a great game between the NFC and AFC and the TV exposure of our great climate. We had a lot of fun with the fans from every team in the league.

The state and the Stadium Authority ought to be ashamed. Auwe, the sound system, the lines for the women's bathrooms, the lack of any misting machines for anyone except the players. How about painting the seats so they all look new? I don't even want to know what the players' locker rooms or the press box looked like.

It is a good thing there was a separate sound system brought in for the great halftime show.

It must be unusual to have a state building like the stadium actually put on a repair and maintenance schedule to keep it looking like new.

If this is the Stadium Authority, the Legislature or the state in general putting its best foot forward, don't expect the Pro Bowl back anytime soon.

USS PORT ROYAL

GROUNDING SHOULDN'T END CAPTAIN'S CAREER

I was sorry to read the headline on the grounding of the USS Port Royal. As a retired Navy officer I was also familiar with the "career-ender" phrase that your writer used in his article to convey the seriousness of the event in the eyes of the U.S. Navy. But, while such an event can end a commanding officer's naval career, it is not always the case.

When Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz of WWII fame was a 22-year-old ensign in the Philippines, in command of the destroyer USS Decatur, he managed to run it aground on a mudbank. He was court-martialed and convicted of hazarding a Navy ship, and received a letter of reprimand. Fortunately, for the United States and the U.S. Navy, he managed to put it all behind him and lead that same Navy to victory in the Pacific in WWII.

I hope the Navy of today will take that into consideration when it considers its findings on this unfortunate incident. Capt. John Carroll's brief bio, as cited in the article, suggests that he has the potential for further command.

DERRICK FUJIKAWA

SPOTLIGHT ON TADD UNFAIR, SENSATIONAL

In regards to your recent article on Derrick Fujikawa (Feb. 4), why was it necessary to bring Tadd Fujikawa's name in the article and write so much about him? There was more written about Tadd than Derrick. Tadd had nothing to do with what happened to Derrick. It was totally unfair to Tadd and his family to include him in that article.

Just recently, Tadd was "on top of the world" with his accomplishments at the Sony Open, bringing worldwide accolades not only to himself, but great press for the state of Hawai'i. He gained the confidence boost that was needed to further his career.

And now, your article plunges him down to the bottom. We all know that this article will be picked up by the media throughout the world because of Tadd's name.

In other articles of law offenders, there are no mention of their sons' or daughters' or wives' names. This type of sensationalism should be placed in the paparazzi presses.